wilson



(tra Mom.) 3 sheets-Tween.

F. s'. WILSON,

STATION INDIATOR.

PatentedP-eb. 10,1891.

(No Model.) l 3 sheets-smet -2.

FpS. WILSON.4

STATION INDICATOR.

No. 446,120. Patented Feb. 10, 1891.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Peb.' 1o, 1891.

...hul i" (No Model.)

P. s. WILSON. STA'IION INDICATOR.

raras NITE@ FRANK S. VILSON, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

SYTATION-BNDICATOR.

SPECFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,120, dated February 10, 1891.

Application tiled July 29,1890. Serial No. 360,300. (No model.)

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an.

elevation of a station-indicator embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line c .fr of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation 0f the indicator, one-half of the frame being removed and the cylinder-caps shown in section. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional plan views of a portion of a car, illustrating the means for operating the indicator automatically. Fig. G is a det-ail perspective view of the detent-lever for releasing the strapthat operates or sets the indicator. Fig. 7 isa side elevation of a part of the upper portion of a car,

showing the devices for automatically operating or setting theindicator. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a portion of one of the indicator-rollers, its ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, and the spring for returning the operatingstrap into its normal position and Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sections taken, respectively, on lines y y and z ,e of Fig. 8, the ratchets in said Figs. 9 and 10 being reversed as they will be on the two rollers at the opposite ends ofthe indicator.

The invention relates to station-indicators for railway and street cars adapted to be arranged within the cars. All indicators of this class, so far as they have Colne to my knowledge, are invariably arranged at one end of the car, so as to displaythe indices in one direct-ion only. The `fact that the indices are displayed from one end of the car only has the disadvantage of being imperceptible to a large number of passengers when seated at the opposite end of the car, so that so 'far as those passengers are concerned the indicator may as well be absent, unless said passengersleave their seats and go near enough to the indicator to enable them to read the indices displayed.

My invention has for its object to avoid the disadvantages referred to, and I attain this object by so constructing the indicator that its indices may be read from both sides, so that it may be suspended in or substantially in the center of a car from the roof or ventilator thereof, thus diminishing the distance by one-half from either end of the car to the indicator, and by providing means for operat- .ing the indicator or settingthe station-indices automatically, whatever may be the speed at which the car or train of cars may beA traveling, or by hand when the indicator is used on street-car lines.

To these ends the invention consists in an lindicator provided with movable indices constructedvto be suspended centrally'of a car from the roof thereof and adapted to be viewed from either side of the indicator; in means for moving or automatically moving the index a predetermined distance to indicate successive stations, and in structural features and combination of parts or mechanisms, as will now be fully set forth, reference being had to the drawings hereinabove described, in which like letters indicate like parts wherever sucnmay occur in the various figures thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the indicatorframe F is composed of two parts F F2, which, with a View to economy, are preferably of castiron, each half of the frame having cast therewith at either end a semi-cylinde1f2,each of which semi-cylinders is preferably provided with a tongue and rabbet f3 f4 along thevertical edge thereof, the tongue of one semi-cylthe web that displays the name of said next" station, as shown in Fig.' 1.

Of course it will be understood that the ap- IOS ertures or openings f in one frame-section registerl with the corrcsliionding ,openings in the other frame-section, so that thc indices may be displayed from both sides. The two fratrie-sections are united through the medium of the cylinders F3, which may be screwthreaded at their upper and vlower ends for the reception of screw-caps, and, if desired, bolts and nuts or other suitable fastening devices may be used to secure the frame-sections together along the Webs thereof.

To avoid the use of screw-caps, and thereby simplify the construction of the indicator, I employ the means hereinafter to be described for uniting the frames.

The caps C are provided with axial bearings for the passage of a stationary shaft S, that performs the function of hanger, said shafts being provided at their upper ends with a plate s to be bolted to the car-roof, each shaft carrying a nut s" at its lower end. In the lower screw-cap for the section F of the frame is-formed a step for the foot of a vertical guide-roll r, that has its bearing at the upper end in a lug f5, cast with said section, a like roller being provided for section F2 of 111e frame, 'as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

y As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the hanger-shafts S are of greater diameter above the upper screw-'cap to form an abutment or shoulder s3, against which said caps bear, the frame sections being united by means of the nuts S only, as shown in Fig. 3,so that by removing said nuts, the lower screw-caps C, and the adjustable colla-rs c, hereinafter to be referred to, the frame cannot only be stripped off the hanger-shafts, but the frame-sections can be taken apart, or, in fact, will come apart, so that access can be readily had to thel devices contained in the frame-cylinders. On the other hand, the construction of the indicator is made extremely simple, y-et can be made very strong and durable.

Upon each hanger-shaft S is mounted av roller R for the index-stri p I, which strip bears upon both sides similar indices arranged in the same order, so that when thestrip is caused to move in either directiouthe same indices will be displayed on opposite sides of the indicator. The rollers R are seated upon collars C', adjustable on the hanger-shafts by means of a'set-s'crew c. The index-strip I has its ends secured to the rollers R, and is wound 'from oney yroller onto the other, according to the 'direction 'of motion Aof the car, the various stations being marked in their regnl-ar order on both sides of the strip, so that the preceding as well the succeeding stations or streets will be vdisplayed in the right and left hand openings f', respectively, of the indicator, as shown in Fig. 1, in which F street is the street just passed by the car and 'G street the next succeeding street toward which the car is traveling.

l/Vhen used in street-cars, the indicator is' or may be operated by hand, and 'whether operated by hand or automatically the same devices are employed, with the exception that when operated by hand the strap S has a ring or pull instead of a hook, as hereinafter described. 'lhis operating mechanism consists of a ratchet-wheel V for each roller R, said ratchet-Wheels being rigidly secured to the upper face of the rollers, and, as will be readily understood, the teeth of the ratchets are reversed; of a spring-barrel B that is loose on the hanger-shaft and has a pawl P, that is held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet W by means of a spring S; of a spring S2, one end of which is secured to the barrel B andthe other to the han ger-shaft S, and of a strap S3, one end of which is secured to the tail jo of the pawl and thefree end thereof passes through a slot in the cylinder f2, as shown in Figs. 7, S, and 9, and in Fig. l, respectively. The arrangement of these devices is such that, assuming the car to be traveling in a given direction and that said car has just.- left F streeft, the conductor pulls the strap S3 at the right of the frame, and as said strap is connected with'the tail of the pawl P the said pawl will be brought into engagement with the teeth of its ratchet, and as said ratchet is rigidly secured to the roller said roller will -be revolved, thereby pulling th-e index-strip from left to right, Winding said strip on said right-hand roller. The index G street will thus be moved to the right-hand opening f and the index H street next following to the left-hand opening, thus indicating that the street just left by the car is G street and that the next will be Il street. In pulling the strap S3 the spring barrel B is revolved against the stress of the spring S2, and as the strap is released the said spring will. return to its normal positi-onthat is to say, the spring will wind the strap up vagain-and in order that the saidstrap may be more or less slack on the cap B, so .as to pull on the tail of the pawl and bring the same into engagement with the teeth of its ratchet, the caps or rollers, orboth, are so proportioned that one revolution thereof, or even less,will move the trip I the required distance.

To prevent an excessive length of strap being Wound on the spring-barrel B when said strap is released after pulling the same, I provide a stop s3, secured to said strap, as vshown in Figs. l an-d 3.

Inasmuch as the teeth of the ratchet-Wheels on the 'two rollers are set in reverse directions, and inasmuch as the pawls P are n-o-rmally Iheld out of engagement with the said ratch- It will readily be understood that the oper- IOO IIO

ating mechanism above the rollers maybe arranged below the same, according to the lheight of the car or according as convenience may require this.

Vhen the indicator is used on steam-carsas, for instance, on elevated steainroads or other steam-roads where a train of cars is usually run-the operation of the indicators in the various cars by hand would be very laborious, and in this case I prefer to operate the indicators automatically. To this end I arrange in the roof ot the car a guide roller or pulley R2, over which the strap S3 travels, said strap having a hook or catch-plate si and a stop 55. At the entrance of or exit from each station is arranged a bracket A, whose arm d projects into the path of the catch s* on strap S3, so that as the car passes, the arm will engage the strap, as shown in Fig. at, and as the car moves along the arm will pull the strap S3 out, as shown in Fig. 5, to set the index. lVhen the strap has been pulled out the required distance, it is disengaged from the arm by a detent-lever L, pivoted to arm a of bracket A, one end Z of said lever eX- tending through a slot d'3 in arm d, while the other end l of said lever is bent down, as shown in Figs. G and '7,-and engages a tripping-roller 'r4 on the car, whereby the lever L is tripped, its end Zeng-aging the catch-plate s4 of the strap S'3 and throwing it off the arm d., as shown in Fig. 5.

Of course it will be understood that one of the automatic operating devices is arranged on each side of the track on single-track lines in order to actuate the indicatorstraps,

whether the car moves in one direction or thek other. The detent-lever is returned to its normal position after having been moved out of it by a spring Z2, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In practice, in order that the indices may be visible at night as well as in day-time, I use a more or less transparent or, more properly, translucent material for the index-strip I, so that when the indicatoris hungbetween two lights the indices will be plainly visible from either side of the indicator. For indi` caters operated by hand a strap S3 of leather may be employed; but when operated automatically I prefer a steel band.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. A street-car indicator comprising two housings connected by open-work webs arranged to form between them a narrow slot or passage, a hanger-rod extending into each housing, a roller mounted on each hanger, and an indicator-strip having the streets or stations marked on both faces in the same order and adapted to have motion from one roller to the other between said webs, for the purpose set forth.

2. A street-carindicator comprising a frame composed of two cylinders connected together by open-work webs arranged to form between them a narrow slot or passage, and a hangerrod extending'into each of said cylinders, in

combination with a roller mounted ou each of said hangers, and a-transparent indicatorstrip having the streets or stations marked thereon and adapted to have motion between the webs'from one roller to the other, for the purpose fet forth.

A street or station indicator comprising a frame composed of two housings provided with bearings and connected by open-work webs, hangers for suspending the frame centrally of a car, a movable roller mounted on the bearings of each housing, and an indicator-strip connected with and adapted to be moved by said rollers between the connecting-webs and having the streets or stations marked thereon on both faces in the same order, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A street or station indicator comprising a frame composed Vof two sections consisting of two semi-cylinders connected together by an open-work web, said parts being arranged so that when the sections are united the frame will have a cylindrical housing at each end connected by a narrow passage formed by and between the webs, a hanger-rod extending through each housing, a roller movable on each of said rods, and an indicator-strip having the street or stations marked thereon on both faces in the saine order, said strip being connected with and adapted to be moved by said rollers between the connecting-webs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A street or station indicator and mechanism for operating the same, consisting of a frame provided with hangers for suspending the same centrally of acar from the roof thereof and with openings front and back in register with each other at each end of the frame, and an indicator-strip having the streets or stations marked thereon on both faces in the same order, said strip being connected with and adapted to be moved by said rollers between and across the openings, a ratchet-wheel secured to the roller, a pawl held normally outy of lengagement with the ratchet andhaving independent motion about the same, a pull connected with the pawl and operating to move it into engagement with the ratchet and revolve the roll, andareturnspring for returning the pull and pawl to their normal positions, as set forth.

6. A street or station indicator and mechanism'for operating the same, consisting of a frame provided with hangers for suspending the same centrally of a car from the roof thereof and with openings front and back in register with eachother at each end of the frame, and an indicator-strip having the streets or stations marked thereon on both faces in the same order, said strip being connected with and adapted to be moved by said rollers between and across the openings, a ratchet-wheel secured to the roller, a pawl held normally out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel and having independent motion IOC IOS

IIO

about the same, a pull .connected with and adapted to move the pawl into engagement with the ratchet, said pull extending out of the car, a return-spring operating to return the pawl and lpull to their normal position independently of the roller, and a tripping device secured to the car, inA combination with a eat-ch in the path ot' the pull, and a trippinglever in the path ot' the tripping device oper-1 ating to release. the pull from the catch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A street or station indicator comprising an indicator-strip having the streets or sta tions marked thereon on loo-th faces in the same order, a frame adapted to be suspended centrally ofthe car from the roof thereof and having openings arranged to simultaneously display the indices on both faces of the strip, means for imparti ng motion to the strip, comprisin g a vertical winding-roller at each end of the frame for imparti-ng lateral motion to the strip, a .ratchet-wheel secured to said roller, the said rat-chefs being arranged with their teeth in reverse directions, a paw] for each of said rat-ehets, held normally out of engagement with the teeth thereof, a springbarrel to which said pawl is pivoted and Which has independent motion on the roller-journal, and a pull on the spring-barrel, connected with the pawl for imparting ino-tion to said barrel and for bringing the pawl into engag ment with its ratchet, substantially as and i'or the purposes specified.

8. The combination, with a ear, of a street or station indicator comprising an indicatorstrip having the streets orstations marked on both faces in the same order, a frame adapted to be suspended centrally of the car from the root the-reet` and having openings arranged to siniiultaneously display the indices on both faces of the strip, a vertical revoluble roller at each end of the frame for imparting lateral motion to the strip, .a pawl-an'd-ratchet mechanism for imparting motion to the rollers, a pull having a catch-plate at its free end, adapted to impart motion to the pawl- Aandn-ratchet mechanism, said catch-plate lying outside of the car., and a return-spring for returning the pa'wl `and pull to their nor- 

